Pipeline Update for residents:
West Amwell’s pipeline committee has been working very hard on behalf of all township
residents.
All of the communities impacted by the proposed PennEast pipeline (and some neighboring
townships) have adopted resolutions in opposition.
The Delaware River Basin Commission has exercised their jurisdiction over the length of the
PennEast pipeline.
In addition:
Senator Shirley Turner has introduced a resolution opposing the pipeline:
http://www.nj.com/mercer/index.ssf/2014/12/state_sen_shirley_turner_introduces_resolutio
n_opposing_1_billion_penneast_natural_gas_pipeline.html#incart_river
Please support her efforts and let her know.
All three 16th District legislators -- Sen. Christopher ”Kip” Bateman, Assemblyman Jack
Ciattarelli and Assemblywoman Donna Simon have stated that they are in opposition to the
pipeline:
http://www.nj.com/hunterdon-countydemocrat/index.ssf/2014/12/bateman_simon_and_ciattarelli.html#incart_river
Bonnie Watson Coleman, Assemblywoman, District 15, is in opposition to the pipeline.
Congressmen Leonard Lance and Rush Holt are in opposition to the proposed route of the
pipeline.
Listed below is the contact information for our representatives. They need to hear from all of
us. If you’ve not contacted them, please do so as soon as possible. The pressure is starting to
work. Remember, we are louder together.
N.J. Senator Shirley Turner
Parkway Corporate Center, 1230 Parkway Ave., Suite 103, Ewing, NJ 08628, Ph: (609) 323-7239; EM:
SenTurner@njleg.org
Assemblyman Reed Gusciora and Assemblywoman Bonnie Watson-Coleman
226 West State St., Trenton, NJ 08608; Ph: (609) 292-0500,
EM: AsmGusciora@njleg.org; AswWatsonColeman@njleg.org
U. S. Senator Robert Menendez – Statewide representative
528 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510-3002
DC Phone (Ph): (202)224-4744,
NJ Ph: (973)645-3030;
www.menendez.senate.gov
U.S. Senator Cory Booker-Statewide representative
141 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510-3003,
DC Ph: (202) 224-3224,
NJ Ph: (973) 639-8700;
www.booker.senate.gov
Congressman Leonard LanceDC: 113 Cannon HOB, Washington, DC 20515; DC Ph: (202) 225-5361,
NJ: 361 Route 31 (Unit 1400), Flemington, NJ 08822, NJ Ph: (908) 788-6900;
www.lance.house.gov
In Addition:
Every resident needs to send letters to the NJDEP:
Bob Martin, Commissioner
Mail Code 401-07
401 East State Street
PO Box 402
Trenton, NJ 08625-0420
Bob.Martin@dep.nj.gov
Daniel Kennedy, Assistant Commissioner
Mail Code: 401-02A
PO Box 420
401 East State Street
Trenton, NJ 08625-0420
And Governor Christie with the same concerns.
The Honorable Chris Christie
Office of the Govenor
PO Box 001
Trenton, NJ 08625-0001
www.state.nj.us.governor
Some talking points to include in your letter to our representatives:
This Project is NOT in the Public Interest
The pipeline project will endanger families and the environment to transport fossil fuels and
support the fracking industry.
The project does not preserve our natural resources; instead it will encourage significant
negative impacts to important waterways, critical habitat, farmlands, wetlands and forests.
Production of gas in the Marcellus Shale is predicted to exceed use in the Mid-Atlantic region
within two years. This line is being pushed by the drillers to move their supply, not based on
public need.
The Project would have Significant Adverse Impacts on:
Water Quality and Water Supply: the pipeline crosses through the Delaware River watershed
which provide drinking water for millions in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
Channel Stability: increased erosion from clearings.
Threatened and Endangered Species; and drainage and compaction of soils.
Pipelines Are Under-regulated & Poorly Maintained:
The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Administration (PHMSA) only has 135 inspectors to
oversee 2.6 million miles of pipeline. PHMSA or its state partners have inspected only one fifth
of that pipeline system since 2006. In the past ten years, gas transmission lines average 117
incidents a year, according to PHMSA. In the past twenty years there have been 41 deaths, 195
injuries, and $1.6 billion in property damage as a result.
PennEast has already announced its intention to increase the size of the pipe to be used in its
project from a 30” to a 36” pipe in order to increase the amount of gas (and its profits) that will
travel through our communities. In New Jersey, pipeline explosions in Edison and last year in
Ewing have led to the loss of life, homes, businesses and peace of mind. In 2011, a UGI Utilities
Inc. -operated pipeline in Allentown, PA exploded, killing five local residents and destroying or
damaging 47 homes/businesses. Local residents will be put in harm’s way by the mere location
of their homes and businesses within the “kill zone” if a pipeline explodes.
The PennEast Pipeline route cuts through preserved farmland impairing the livelihood of local
farmers and unjustly benefits private companies by allowing them to skim profits from local
farmers who chose to preserve their farms by sacrificing profitable development rights.
The proposed pipeline will uproot trees; contaminate quality topsoil, cut through existing cold
springs/water sources and inevitably damage existing successful farms in our region. The route
appears to target preserved farmland and will impede farming operations and farmers access
to their own land.
The PennEast Pipeline route targets conserved land and seek to trump local and state
investments in open space preservation.
West Amwell Township, neighboring communities, county and state voters have proactively
chosen to vote for and pay for conserved open space for our children’s future. What gives forprofit corporations the right to take our investment away from us to further their profit
margins, particularly where there is no public need for the project?
Clean Energy Alternatives:
Instead of investing in long term infrastructure for more fossil fuels, we need to be investing in
alternatives like solar, wind, demand response and energy efficiency that do not threaten the
environment and our public health. Researchers at Stanford have found NJ can run on 100%
renewable energy by 2050, creating green jobs while improving our environmental legacy.
Note: PennEast is currently reviewing potential alternate routes for the pipeline, but it is
uncertain if the proposed or alternate routes will be the final route subject to FERC
approval. No new alternate routes can be created after the actual filing with FERC which
takes place in July/Aug 2015. If you have recently received a letter from PennEast
requesting permission to survey your property: you have a right to refuse the survey and if
you have given permission, then you can rescind that permission. See West Amwell’s
website for a sample letter. www.westamwelltwp.org.
Thank you.
West Amwell Pipeline Committee:
George Fisher, Mayor
Cathy Urbanski
Janice Zuzov
Jennifer Andreoli